Michael Gove accuses exam system of neglecting British history

Secretary of Education "surprised" by the narrow focus on Nazi Germany and the American Wild West

British history is neglected in schools because the student elections a common debate around the rise of Nazi Germany and the wild American West, according to Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Gove said he was "surprised" by the narrowness of the questions that students continue the study of history. There was a "Hitler's concentration and also quite a surprising enthusiasm, and under-commented for the American West 1848-1895."

Speaking at the conference of the History of Education in London, Gove said that a review of the national program should lead to a "balance" study of history that places more emphasis on understanding Britain's past. He pointed to a "class divide" in the study of history GCSE, with less than a third of the 16 years of age who take the subject in public schools, compared with half private schools.

He said: "I am an advocate without shame or regret for the role of history in our program, so I'm really concerned that - despite the efforts of teachers History, endowed with brilliant academic. and television and the publication that helped popularize history, our curriculum and examination means that children hungry to learn more about our past, unfortunately, leave school malnourished "

Gove said the review boards in English that provide students with two options for GCSE history of "modern world" or "school project in history." In the draft of the history offered by the ABA Board exam, 92% of students have studied in America or West Germany from 1919 to 1945, while only 8% chose to study British history in depth. In version the Edexcel exam board, only 4% chose the UK to study in depth while 96% did so in Germany or in the wild west.

Gove said: "Besides the courses, the only piece of British history can not guarantee 96% see it as part of the unity of the" original research "- where only one in 10 choose "the impact of the war. of Great Britain "

• Students who take the option of GCSE modern world history has not been studied before the 20th century, and most have opted for the early and mid 20th century in Germany for his in-depth study.
• Gove said: "I think such a concentration of many students in American history in a period of 50 years and in Germany over a period of 13 years is clearly wrong We must ensure that our GCSE. and the national program are better aligned and criticism that are best aligned for our students to have a better understanding of the linear narrative of British history and impact of Britain and the world impact in the world in Britain. "

reference to a student survey conducted by Professor Derek Matthews of the University of Cardiff, Gove said that twice as many students believe that Nelson commanded the British forces at Waterloo as ( bad) called Wellington - while nine students thought he was Napoleon.

Education Secretary said that after the conference that history would "give people the opportunity to be proud of our past and, in particular, proud heroes and heroines who have fought for freedom in time. "" That does not mean that airbrushing sometimes when things were horrible. "

Shadow Schools Minister Kevin Brennan said: "The teaching of history must do more than mold our students into citizens who meet the wishes of a government
"We must go beyond simply glorify our past so that students can engage critically with the past and understand how it affects them in this area.

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